Method for regeneration of cation exchange resins and for removal of iron deposits therefrom

ABSTRACT

A composition for preparing an aqueous solution for regenerating and removing iron from a cation exchange resin which has become exhausted and iron-fouled as the result of use in softening hard water, the composition comprising a major proportion of sodium chloride and a minor proportion of a source of nitrilotriacetic acid; and a method of regenerating said resin.

United States Patent Kuhajek et al.

[ METHOD FOR REGENERATION OF CATION EXCHANGE RESINS AND FOR REMOVAL OF IRON DEPOSITS THEREF ROM Inventors: Eugene J. Kuhajek, Crystal Lake;

Howard W. Fiedelman; Gordon H. Tibbitts, both of Woodstock, all of 111.

Morton-Norwich Products, Inc., Chicago, 111.

Filed: Mar. 12, 1973 Appl. No.: 339,611

Assignee:

US. Cl. 260/2.2 R; 210/32 Int. Cl B0ld 15/06 Field of Search 210/32, 30, 38; 252/87,

252/175, 181, DIG. 11; 260/22 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1956 Diamond ..210/32 7/1963 Arensberg 252/175 2os- 3 20.0 19.2 LI- 0 25.4

if) 517.6 l lea 3 I69 g 5.2 g m .MALIC AC1 (CORRECTED) MILLIGRAMS IRON REMO E CITRIC ACID .TARTARIC ACID D I 'SU LFAMJC ACI D June 3, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 45-17781 6/1970 Japan OTHER PUBLICATIONS Chelating Agent Quantity Calculator, Chas. Pfizer & Co., Inc., April 1966.

General Information on Chelation, Technical Bulletin, Hampshire Chemical Division of W. R. Grace & Co., May 1960, pp. 9A-12A.

Primary Examiner-Samih N. Zaharna Assistant Examinerlvars Cintins Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jack Axelrood 57 ABSTRACT A composition for preparing an aqueous solution for regenerating and removing iron from a cation exchange resin which has become exhausted and ironfouled as the result of use in softening hard water, the composition comprising a major proportion of sodium chloride and a minor proportion of a source of nitrilotriacetic acid; and a method of regenerating said resin.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures NITRILOTRIACETIC ACID (NTA) Aoomvs (SODIUM CHLORIDE BASIS) PATENTFMUH 3 I925 SHEET EXAMPLE l3 EXAMPLE H EXAMPLE l5 Mg Fe REMOVED PER l%H3NTA EQUlVALENT EXAMPLE l6 EXAMPLE \7 3 i 5 P H (Measured in Deionized or Distilled Water) METHOD FOR REGENERATION OF CATION EXCHANGE RESINS AND FOR REMOVAL OF IRON DEPOSITS THEREFROM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Conventional water treating devices make use of cation exchange resins. Hard water to be treated for removal of various ions is brought into contact with the resin which contains readily exchangeable hydrogen or sodium ions. As the hard water is passed through a bed of the resin, some ofthe ions causing the hardness, such as calcium and magnesium ions, are removed from the water by the cation exchange resin and are replaced by hydrogen or sodium ions therefrom. When the capacity of the cation exchange resin for removing these hardness-causing ions has been substantially reduced or exhausted, the resin must be regenerated. This is usually done by treatment with brine (an aqueous solution of sodium chloride) which 'restores the exchange capacity of the resin by replacing hardness-causing ions with sodium ions, thus producing an ionizable sodium salt form of the resin. The regenerated resin then functions on what is referred to as the sodium cycle. Alternatively, the exhausted resin may be regenerated with acid, thereby replacing hardnesscausing ions withhydrogen ions, in which case the resin then functions on the hydrogen cycle.

Among the materials causing hardness are iron ions and iron compounds, hereinafter referred to collectively as iron. Cation exchange resins have a high affinity for iron, hence soluble iron from water becomes strongly attached to active sites in the resin. In addition to the exchange action, soluble iron in water tends to form a rust coating on the surface of the resin beads. Accordingly, whereveriron is present in a water supply, it accumulates both in and on the beads of ion exchange resin used to soften the water, thereby fouling such resins. When the resin beads are thus fouled their exchange properties are significantly diminished. In order to restore the exchange properties of an ironfouled resin so that it may function properly, the iron must be removed. Removal of even a small portion of the iron opens new sites on the resin so that the ion exchange necessary for the treatment of water may take place.

2. Description of the Prior Art Conventionally the removal of iron deposits from exhausted ion exchange resins is accomplished by contacting the exhausted iron-fouled resin with a regenerating solution containing sodium chloride and an ironsolubilizing compound. Two of the most widely used iron-removing or solubilizing compounds are sodium hydrosulfite and sodium bisulfite. A combination of sodium hydrosulfite and bisulfite, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,183,191, has also been employed for this purpose. Japanese Pat. No. 45-17781 discloses a combination of sodium bisulfite and the disodium salt of nitrilotriacetic acid in sodium chloride brine as a regenerant and iron-removing composition for exhausted ion exchange resins. U.S. Pat. No. 2,769,787 teaches combinations of sodium chloride and a solid water soluble acid selected from the group consisting of citric, tartaric, sulfamic, sulfosalicyclic, malic, maleic, succinic and itaconic acids. Although these latter acids are effective to a degree for the intended purpose, their ironremoving efficiency is of a low order of magnitude. Ac-

cordingly, it would be desirable to provide a composition for preparing an aqueous solution for regenerating and simultaneously removing iron deposits from exhausted ion exchange resins, and a method for said regeneration and iron removal, which composition and method are more effective and efficient with respect to iron removal than prior art methods.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved method of regenerating exhausted ion exchange resins and simultaneously removing iron therefrom which method does not impair the original softening capacity of the resin through repeated cycles of softening, cleaning and regeneration.

The fulfillment of these and other related objects of this invention may be more readily appreciated by reference to the following specification, examples, and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Broadly, this invention relates to a composition for preparing an aqueous solution for regenerating and removing iron from a cation exchange resin which has been used for softening hard water and has become substantially exhausted and iron-fouled by reason thereof, said composition comprising a major proportion of sodium chloride and a minor proportion of a source of nitrilotriacetic acid. This invention also relates to a method of regenerating a cation exchange resin which has been used for softening hard water and which has become iron-fouled and substantially exhausted by reason thereof, which method comprises contacting said resin with an aqueous solution containing a major proportion of sodium chloride and a minor proportion of a source of nitrilotriacetic acid.

The present process is applicable to those cation exchange resins capable of operating on the sodium cycle and to the commercially available styrene resins comprising a sulfonated copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene.

In this invention, nitrilotriacetic acid may be used per se, or it may be formed in situ by the combination of a sodium salt of nitrilotriacetic acid with a water soluble acidic donor, the quantity and acidity of the acidic donor being sufficient to provide a pH of an aqueous brine solution of said combination of not more than about 3 pH units. Although any convenient source of water may be employed for the preparation of the aqueous brine solution of said combination, it is recognized that local sources of water contain varying concentrations of bicarbonate ion which acts as a buffering agent and thereby affects pH values. Therefore, to provide a standard frame of reference for the determination of the pH referred to herein, the pH measurement is made on an aqueous brine solution of said combination prepared from deionized or distilled water. Some acidic donors which are suitable are, for example, but not limited to, sodium bisulfate and sulfamic acid.

It was found that the aforesaid combination of sodium chloride and nitrilotriacetic acid, when formed into an aqueous solution, has the capability of removing iron much more effectively than the combinations disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,769,787, a fact which is demonstrated more fully in the following examples. For instance, as little as about 0. 17% by weight of nitrilotriacetic acid, on a sodium chloride basis, solubilizes twice as much iron as the same quantity of citric acid. Increasing the quantity of nitrilotriacetic acid causes an even greater increase in the iron removal capability of the compositions of the present invention when compared to those of U.S. Pat. No. 2,769,787. ln addition, as is demonstrated in the following examples, the com- A 125 gram portion of an ion exchange resin which had become exhausted and badly fouled with iron through usage for water softening was placed in a suitable glass column. To regenerate this resin there was positions of the present invention are much more effec- 5 passed therethrough 650 milliliters of a brine (sotive for removing iron than is the combination of sodium chloride) solution containing 0.175% of nitrilotridium bisulfite and the disodium salt of nitrilotriacetic acetic acid (hereinafter H NTA) on a sodium chloacid taught by Japanese Pat. No. 45-17781. ride basis. The quantity of sodium chloride used in the it has been established amply in the literature that soregenerating solution is in excess of that required for dium chloride is effective in regenerating exhausted 10 complete regeneration of the exhausted resin. This procation exchangers, the usual quantity of salt being of cedure was repeated on another 125 gram portion of the order of magnit e of bout 6 po n s p r cubic the same resin except that the brine contained 0.175% foot of resin. Conveniently the regenerating process is by weight of citric acid instead of H NTA. As a control, accomplished by the use of a 510% salt solution which another 125 gram portion of the same resin was treated is passed through the resin bed at a rate sufficient to efwith 650 milliliters of the same brine solution except fect regeneration thereof in about 30 minutes. As prethat it contained no additives. viously stated, the inclusion in the brine of nitrilotriace- Afte regeneration, a portion of each brine solution tic acid, or a combination of the sodium salt thereof was analyzed for iron content to determine total iron and a water soluble acidic donor significantly enhances 2O removed. The results wereas follows: the regeneration process by facilitating the removal of iron deposits from the exhausted resin. In one preferred embodiment of the process of the present invention, Additive in Mg of Fe 5 53a the process comprises contacting the exhausted resin Brine Solution Removed when compared with an aqueous solution containing a major proportion (Nacl Basis) Tow Corrected, i of sodium chloride and, on a sodium chloride basis, from about 0.1% to about 1.4% by weight of nitrilotri- 83 5 3 f g 2 ($3 acetic acid or its equivalent formed by the reaction of 0 75% H N 0,9 0,6 200 a sodium salt thereof with an acidic donor. The quan- Corrected for 0.3 milligram of iron removed tity and acidity of the acid donor should be sufficient by COmmL to cause the pH of an aqueous brine solution of said 2 Mg. Fe Removed b H NTA 100 combination of a sodium salt of nitrilotriacetic acid and Fe Removed y Citric Acid acidic donor to be not more than about 3 pH units. Although concentrations of nitrilotriacetic acid greater than about 1.4% are effective in removing iron, the expense of exceeding this concentration, when compared with the benefits, makes it impracticable from an eco EXAMPLES nomic point of view. The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except For a more complete understanding of the present that comparisons were made between 0.35% citric acid invention, reference is now made to the following spe- 40 and 0.35% l-l NTA, 0.70% citric acid and 0.70% cific examples illustrating the novel composition and H NTA and 1.40% citric acid and 1.40% H NTA. The process of this invention. 7 results were as follows:

Additive in Fe Removed 10% Brine Mg. of Fe Removed by H NTA when Solution compared to Example (NaCl Basis) Total Corrected Citric Acid 2 (a) 0.35% citric acid 1.4 1.1

(b) 0.35% HKNTA 2.9 2.6 236 3 (a) 0.70% citric acid 3.8 3.5

(b) 0.70% H;,NTA 12.1 11.8 337 4 (a) 1.40% citric acid 6.2 5.9

(b) 1.40% H NTA 18.4 18.1 307 Corrected for 0.3 milligram of iron removed by control (see Example 1). 2 M Fe Removed by H;,NTA

Mg. Fe Removed by Citric Acid DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLES 5-7 The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that 0.70% of malic acid, 0.70% tartaric acid and 0.70% sulfamic acid were substituted respectively for citric acid. The results were as follows:

6 Additive in Fe Removed Brine Mg. of Fe Removed by H NTA Solution when compared Example (NaCl Basis) Total Corrected to Test Acid 5 (a) 0.70% malic acid 1.3 1.0

(b) 0.70% H NTA 12.1 11.8 1180 6 (a) 0.70% tartaric 2.0 1.7

acid (b) 0.70% H NTA 12.1 11.8 694 7 (a) 0.70% sulfamic 1.1 0.8

acid (b) 0.70% H;,NTA 12.1 11.8 1475 Corrected for 0.3 milligram of iron removed by control (see Example 1). 2 M Fe Removed by H NTA Mg. Fe Removed by Test Acid 100 The foregoing results demonstrate that the use of ni- Example 9 0.35% on NaCl basis trilotriacetic acid in brine provides an iron-removing solution that is vastly more effective, i.e., from twice to fifteen times as effective as the acids disclosed by the prior art.

These results are depicted graphically in FIG. 1 where the number of milligrams of iron removed is plotted along the ordinate and the percent additive (nitrilotriacetic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, malic acid and sulfamic acid) is plotted along the abscissa.

0.70% on NaCl basis Example 10 1.40% on NaCl basis Example 1 1 In addition, the procedure was repeated (Example 12) using 0.70% citric acid (NaCl basis) for comparative purposes. The results were as follows:

Additive in Mg. Fe Removed 10% Brine Brine Mg. of Fe Removed Per Solution Solution 1% H NTA Example (NaCl Basis) pH Total Corrected Equivalent 9 0.35% H NTA 2.15 28.6 27.8 79.4 10 0.70% H NTA 1.95 46.5 45.7 65.3 1 l 1.40% H NTA 1.80 64.5 63.7 45.5 12 0.70% Citric 2.10 13.0 12.2

Acid

EXAMPLE 8 A portion (125 grams) of an ion exchange resin which had become exhausted and badly fouled with iron through repeated use is softening water was placed in a suitable column. This resin was different from and was iron-contaminated to a greater degree than the resin employed in Examples l7. To regenerate this resin there was passed therethrough 650 milliliters of a 10% sodium chloride solution containing 0.1217 gram of H NTA, equivalent to 0.175% H NTA on a sodium chloride basis. The quantity of sodium chloride used in the regenerating solution is in excess of that required for complete regeneration of the exhausted resin. The pH of the brine solution was determined prior to use. After regeneration, a portion of each brine solution was analyzed for iron content to determine total iron removed. As a control, another 125 grams portion of the same resin was treated with 650 milliliters of a 10% brine solution containing no additives.

comparing the iron removed (45.7 mg.) by 0.70% H NTA with that removed (12.2 mg.) by 0.70% citric acid, we find that H NTA removed 375% (45.7/12.2 X 100) as much iron as citric acid. This figure substantially corroborates the increased iron removal of H NTA over citric acid (337%) found in Example 3 using a resin which was much less heavily iron-fouled than the resin employed in Example 8-12.

EXAMPLE 13 The results obtained were as follows: tion:

Additive in Mg.Fe Removed 10% Brme Brine Mg. of Fe Removed Per Solution Solution 1% H NTA Example (NaCl Basis) pH Total Corrected Equivalent 8 No additive 6.30 1 0.8

O.l75% H NTA 2.30 15.0 14.2 81.1

EXAMPLES 91 2 The procedure of Example 8 was repeated except that the following concentrations of nitrilotriacetic. acid were employed as indicated:

Na NTA H O 3NaHSO H NTA 3Na SO H O From this equation it is seen that 1.41 g. NaHSO is the stoichiometric quantity required for reaction with 1.08 g. Na NTA H O. On a NaCl basis, the concentrations are 1.01% Na NTA H 0 and 1.32% NaHSO,.

For Control p p the Procedure W115 repeated as an iron-removing composition. lnasmuch as using 141 g- NHHSOi P liter of brine (132% NZIH- there is no readily available commerical source of 4 On 3 NaCl basis) without y NilaNTA 2 being Na HNTA, a combination of Na NTA H 0 and present. H NTA was employed to yield Na HNTA according to The results obtained were as follows: the following equation:

Mg. Fe Additive in Removed Per Brine Solution Brine Mg. Fe Removed 1% H;|NTA (NaCl Basis) pH Actual Corrected Equivalent 1.01% Na NTA H O }1.95 42.0 41.2 58.9 1.32% NaHsO 1.32% NaHSO 1.70 15.5 14.7

It is seen from the foregoing that the quantity of iron ZNaQNTA HsNTA 3Na2HNTA removed is 280%(4l.2/l4.7 X 100) as much in the in- The example set forth in this patent provides that 2.4

stance where the nitrilotriacetic acid moiety is present g. of sodium bisulfite (Nal-lSO and 1.6 g. of Na l-lwhen compared to the iron removal capability of the NTA be added to 200 ml. of 10% NaCl'solution for reacidic donor (NaHSO alone. generating and cleaning 200 ml. of an ion exchange resin. This is equivalent to 7.8 g. NaHSO per 650 ml. EXAMPLES 14-17 and 5.2 g. Na l-lNTA per 650 ml.; 7.8 g. Nal-lSO per The procedure of Example 13 was repeated except 650 ml. is equivalent to 7.12 g. Na S O per 650 ml. acthat the pH of the combination of Na NTA H 0 and cording to the following equation: NaHSO employed was increased to 2.50, 3.00, 4.00 Na S O H O +2NaHSO and 5.00 respectively, by decreasing the quantity of A combination of 1.41 g. H NTA and 4.06 g. NaHSO, to 0.787%, 0.510%, 0.455% and 0.436% re- Na NTA H O provides 5.2 g. of Na HNTA. Therefore spectively on a NaCl basis. The results obtained were the procedure of Example 8 was repeated using 650 ml.

as follows: of a 10% brine of the following composition:

Additive in Mg. Fe 10% Brine Removed Per Solution Brine Mg. Fe Removed 1% HKNTA Example (NaCl Basis) pH Actual Corrected Equivalent 14 1.01% Na NTA 11 0 }2.50 31.0 30.2 43.2 0.787% NaHso 15 1.01% Na,,NTA H O }3.00 15.6 14.8 21.1 0.510% NaHSO 16 1.01% Na NTA H2O }4.00 11.7 10.9 15.6 0.455% NaHso. 17 1.01% Na -,NTA H2O 5.00 8.4 7.6 10.9 0.436% NaHSO The results of Examples 13-17 are depicted in the 7.12 g. Na S O graph of FIG. 2 where the quantity of mg. of iron re- 1.41 g. H NTA moved per 1% H NTA equivalent is plotted along the 4.06 g. Na NTA H O ordinate, and the pH of the Na NTA-Nal-lSOi combiwhich composition contains the NTA moiety at a level nation is plotted along the abscissa. As is evident from equivalent to 6.07% HgNTA (on a NaCl basis).

the graph, the quantity of iron removed by the Na N The results obtained were as follows:

TA-Nal-ISQ, combination decreases as the pH increases. The quantity of acid donor employed should i be sufficient to provide a pH of the aqueous solution of ig fi the combination of not more than about 3 pH units for Brine F Removed 1% H NTA maximum iron removal efficiency. Although a pH up to pH Actual Corrected Equivalent about 5 for the combination of Na NTA and NaHSO is operable to remove iron from an iron-fouled resin,

the most effective and efficient iron removal occurs where the pH is no more than about 3 pH units.

EXAMPLE 18 Japanese Pat. No. 45-17781 teaches the use of a 65 The following tabulation compares this iron removal combination of the disodium salt of nitrilotriacetic acid per 1% l-l NTA equivalent with that of Examples (hereinafter Na HNTA) and sodium bisulfite (Nal-l- 13-17.

Mg. Fe Actual Increase by Removed Per the Combination of 1% l -l;,NTA the Present invention over Example Equivalent that of the Japanese Patent Increase Value in Column 1 less 10.4 Obtained by dividing each value in Column ll by 10.4 and multiplying by 100.

EXAMPLE 19 15 This amounts to 245% Fe removed by H NTA alone Removed Per Brine Mg. Fe Removed 1% H NTA pH Actual Corrected Equivalent Comparing this result to that of Example 10 (whose 0.70% H NTA was used), it is seen that the present invention provides a significant improvement in iron removal as indicated by the following data:

Mg. Fe Removed Per Example 1% H NTA Equivalent when compared to the composition of the Japanese Patent.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of regenerating a cation exchange resin which has been used for softening hard water and which has become iron-fouled and substantially exhausted by reason thereof, which method comprises contacting said resin with an aqueous solution containing about 10% by weight of sodium chloride and based on said sodium chloride at least about 0.175% by weight of nitrilotriacetic acid, the pH of said aqueous solution containing said sodium chloride and said nitrilotriacetic acid being less than about 3 pH units.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the nitrilotriacetic acid is derived from a combination of a sodium salt of nitrilotriacetic acid and an acidic donor, the quantity and acidity of said acidic donor being sufficient to provide said pH of less than about 3 pH units.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the acidic donor is sodium bisulfate.

4. The'method of claim 2 wherein the acidic donor is sulfamic acid. 

1. A METHOD HOF REGENERATING A CATION EXCHANGE RESIN WHICH HAS BEEN USED FOR SOFTENING HARD WATER AND WHICH HAS BECOME IRON-FOULD AND SUBSTANTIALLY EXHAUSTED BY REASON THEREOF, WHICH METHOD COMPRISES CONTACTING SAID RESIN WITH AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION CONTAINING ABOUT 10% BY WEIGHT OF SODIUM CHLORIDE AND BASED ON SODIUM CHLORIDE AT LEAST ABOUT 0.175% BY WEIGHT OF NITROLOTRIACETIC ACID, THE PH OF SAID AQUEOUS SOLUTION CONTAINING SAID SODIUM CHLORIDE AND SAID NITRILOTRIACETIC ACID BEING LESS THAN ABOUT 3 PH UNITS.
 1. A method of regenerating a cation exchange resin which has been used for softening hard water and which has become iron-fouled and substantially exhausted by reason thereof, which method comprises contacting said resin with an aqueous solution containing about 10% by weight of sodium chloride and based on said sodium chloride at least about 0.175% by weight of nitrilotriacetic acid, the pH of said aqueous solution containing said sodium chloride and said nitrilotriacetic acid being less than about 3 pH units.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the nitrilotriacetic acid is derived from a combination of a sodium salt of nitrilotriacetic acid and an acidic donor, the quantity and acidity of said acidic donor being sufficient to provide said pH of less than about 3 pH units.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the acidic donor is sodium bisulfate. 